According to Hollywood.com; Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law Eugene in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back out of frustration over the couples divorce in 1972, when the Grammy winner and awards host was just a young boy. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', In 1996, Def Jam released this "greatest hits" package, offering a good summary of Cool J's career, from the relentless minimalism of early hits such as "Rock the Bells" to the smooth-talking braggadocio that followed. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. During an appearance on Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis . 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. [11][12][13] According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for Smith was heart-breaking. published in 2002. Series overview and suggestions on where to start! This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. During his time at Def Jam, LL released an album every two or three years from 1987 to . _taboola.push({ Early life and family. The NCIS star confessed that James came back into his life and made amends for plenty of the things that he did wrong by helping him with his music career early on. Screengrab. When his father then moved to California, his mother's boyfriend was physically . target_type: 'mix' 2. When LL was four years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. LL Cool J Songs - Hit 'em High 1996 - Hush 2004 - U Will Know 1994 James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York to Ondrea Griffith (born January 19, 1946) and James Louis Smith Jr, also known as James Nunya. LL Cool J ( Full name: James Todd Smith) is a 54-year-old American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. By using the mixer he had received from his grandfather, Smith produced and mixed his own demos and sent them to various record companies throughout New York City, including Def Jam. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. [17] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Under his new stage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation for Ladies Love Cool James), coined by his friend and fellow rapper Mikey D,[21][15] Smith was signed by Def Jam, which led to the release of his first official record, the 12-inch single "I Need a Beat" (1984). [63][64], While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"),[65] his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. Announcement. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. He came to the top with his single "I Want a Beat" and his presentation studio collection, Radio, in 1985. The abuse he suffered from Roscoe was damaging, but living with the pain of his father shooting his mother and grandfather must have been worse. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. In 1984, sixteen-year-old Smith was creating demo tapes in his grandparents' home. He eliminated the threatening forces and continued advancing in his career while making money selling books, platinum records, and helping children. 253 comments. It was just a power trip , Hed make me take off all my clothes and put my arms up on my bunk bed with the `Star Wars sheets while he beat me. LL Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. Instead, he rose above all that, making a success of his life with the help of his father, James Smith. They teamed up to financially support and inspire people through the "Beat Cancer Like A Boss" campaign for the American Cancer Society. Five years later, he became a star, went on to win numerous awards, and earned the title of one of the founding fathers of hip hop. They met during their teenage years and dated for eight years before exchanging their marriage vows. }); Copyright 2015 . Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. 2016 LL Cool J was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. I guess it would leave you scarred, at four years old, based on how the people around you dealt with it and encouraged you to deal with it. [39] As a result, his audience base began to decline due to the album's bold commercial and pop aspirations. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. The album went gold. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina. LL Cool J during a press conference at Hotel St. Regis on June 5, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico | Source: Getty Images. Although no one died, it was a terrible experience for LL Cool J, who was only a kid when it occurred. At the moment, he is married to Simone Smith, and they have four children together. Even more, he was featured in a television documentary series called Finding Your Roots; LL Cool J learned of the family secret so well-hidden that even his own mother was unaware . LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. Season 2 Episode 220. Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut vocal work by Foxy Brown. [53], In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be called G.O.A.T. [25] placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer John Henry Lewis. The album's immense success propelled Mama Said Knock You Out to be LL's top selling album of his career (as of 2002) and solidified his status as a hip-hop icon. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. The third season of PBS' hit show Finding Your Roots continues to chronicle the fascinating family stories of celebrities, politicians, activists and more. _taboola.push({ Aired on 01/27/2013 | CC. LL Cool J extends his reach during Gray Line New York's "Ride Of Fame" induction ceremony, which honored the native New Yorker Monday at Manhattan's Pier 78. 00:00. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. The 'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and his mother Ondrea sat down with ET to share their fondest (and most embarrassing) memories of LL's upbringing. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. As if that wasnt bad enough, his mother, Ondrea, eventually settled into another relationship with a man named, Roscoe Granger, and in the book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe, allegedly a drug addict, took every opportunity to beat LL whenever he had the chance. In his book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe constantly beat his mother. My family is a very interesting family. The abuse he suffered from Roscoe was damaging, but living with the pain of his father shooting his mother and grandfather must have been worse. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. Before the separation was finalized, however, things ended up getting violent. It was just a power trip.". "[22] That same year, Smith made his professional debut concert performance at Manhattan Center High School. Advertisement LL Cool J is a legendary rapper who has recorded over nine albums in the last 15 years and won many awards, including three Grammys. The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". [57] LL hosted the Grammy Awards Show for five consecutive years, from the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, through the 58th Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016. 00:00. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). Exception: This awkward piece of wonky cheese. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr. Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. . While Bigger and Deffer, which was a big success, was produced by the L.A. Posse (at the time consisting of Dwayne Simon, Darryl Pierce and, according to himself the most important for crafting the sound of the LP, Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin), Dwayne Simon was the only one left willing to work on producing LL Cool J's third album Walking with a Panther. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Relationships. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; It was tough. LL Cool J added: My father he made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, you know. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. Thank you. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. [10], In 2002, LL Cool J supported George Pataki's bid for a third term as Governor of New York. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. Recently, he allegedly came out and said that Tito Jackson is his father and he also reveals some shocking details about Barry Gordy using him for his talent early on but he had to sign some letters because Tito ain't want him to be his real child. target_type: 'mix' He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . Released November 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States,[26] Radio earned a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', [8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. [29] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, and remained there for 47 weeks, while also entering the Pop Albums chart on January 11, 1986,[29] remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. [4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. L.L. [106] In a February 10, 2012 televised interview with CNN host Piers Morgan, LL Cool J expressed sympathy for President Barack Obama and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership to Republican obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. After the off-and-on relationship and two kids, LL Cool J left Simone twice. Though he was beginning to act out in the aftermath of the abuse by the age of 16 LL found his calling during the Golden Age of Hip Hop as one of the top emcees of the time. The website accepts music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip-hop genre, and the site's users rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events. [91], In March 2015, LL Cool J also appeared in an introduction to WrestleMania 31. [95] In contrast to the lengthy, jam-like form predominant throughout early hip hop ("King Tim III", "Rapper's Delight", "The Breaks"), new-school artists tended to compose shorter songs that would be more accessible and had potential for radio play, and conceived more cohesive LPs than their old-school counterparts; the style typified by LL Cool J's Radio. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. [35] Rubin's early hip hop production work, before his exit from Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a hip hop pioneer and establish his reputation in the music industry.[35]. [7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. What is LL Cool J's real name? He is best known for romantic ballads like I Need Love as well as hardcore rap like I Can't Live Without My Radio. Beat with belts like a slave with a whip. Yet, the scars never fully healed. Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. (4 years old) when his father shot his mother during a dispute between the two. [18], In the VH1 documentary Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation, Smith revealed that he initially called himself J-Ski, but did not want to associate his stage name with the cocaine culture (The rappers who use "Ski" or "Blow" as part of their stage name, e.g., Kurtis Blow and Joeski Love, were associated with the rise of the cocaine culture, as depicted in the 1983 remake of Scarface.) [96] A leading example of the new school sound is the song "I Can't Live Without My Radio", a loud, defiant declaration of public loyalty to his boom box, which The New York Times described as "quintessential rap in its directness, immediacy and assertion of self". The album had four singles ("How I'm Comin'", "Back Seat (of My Jeep)", "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings", "Stand By Your Man") and guest-featured labelmates Lords of the Underground on "NFA-No Frontin' Allowed". When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. In that same year, he released the album Phenomenon. ", "LL Cool J Todd Smith Clothing Collection Launch and Video", "Here's LL Cool J's Emotional Opening To WrestleMania 31", "Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia Def Jam, LL, & new school hip hop", "LL Cool J:: Radio ** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series ** by Steve "Flash" Juon", EntertainmentSimone Smith, LL Cool J's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, "LL Cool J's Kids With Wife Simone Smith", "Senator Malcolm Smith Show w. LL Cool J part 3", "One On 1: Hip-Hop Artist LL Cool J Leaves Footprints Beyond Music", "LL Cool J: 2018 We are Family Humanitarian Award honoree", "WWII in HD DVD Set | WW2 HD DVD History Channel", "Rock On The Net: 31st Annual Grammy Awards - 1989", "Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards - 1992", "Rock On The Net: 35th Annual Grammy Awards - 1993", "Rock On The Net: 36th Annual Grammy Awards - 1994", "Rock On The Net: 39th Annual Grammy Awards - 1997", "40th Annual Grammy Award Nominations Coverage (1998) |DigitalHit.com", "Complete List Of 2004 Grammy Nominations", "Rock On The Net: 1991 MTV Video Music Awards", "Rock On The Net: 1996 MTV Video Music Awards", "The 1997 Edition Was the Best MTV Video Music Awards", "5 Films Head Nominations for NAACP Image Awards", "Blackflix.com: 34th NAACP Image Award Nominees", "Ashanti, Amerie Lead Pack Of Nominees For Soul Train Awards", "19th Annual Soul Train Awards Nominations", "LL Cool J | Long Island Music Hall of Fame". window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Later pressings of the album added the 2003 Jennifer Lopez duet, "All I Have". [71] Later that year, he starred as Julian Washingtona talented but selfish running back on fictional professional football team the Miami Sharksin Oliver Stone's drama Any Given Sunday. [56], In March 2016, LL announced his retirement on social media, but quickly walked back his announcement and indicated that a new album was on the way. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. Punched me in the chest stomped me out on the flo'. His father, , it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. [87] The brand produces popular urban apparel. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. L.L. [69] In 1999, co-starred as Preacher, the chef in the Renny Harlin horror/comedy Deep Blue Sea. Yet, the scars never fully healed. After his mother moved on, she married an abusive man and drug addict named, LL Cool J Announces Rock the Bells Festival with Ice Cube, Lil Kim, Digable Planets, Will Smiths Post Slap Film Comeback is Sci-fi Thriller Brilliance Hes Producing/Starring, In GMA Interview Ye Apologizes to Kim K for Stressing Her | WATCH. It was tough. And LL was the one who discovered them! [97], The energy and hardcore delivery and musical style of rapping featured on Radio, as well as other new-school recordings by artists such as Run-D.M.C., Schooly D, T La Rock and Steady B, proved to be influential to hip-hop acts of the "golden age" such as Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy. The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York. When he was very young his parents got a divorce and it angered his biological father, James, so much that he shot both LL's mother and grandfather with a shotgun. LL Cool J (Getty) *In his 1997 biography "I Make My Own Rules," LL Cool J recounts the time his father shot his mother and grandfather because he was bitter about getting a . LL Cool J starred in In the House, an NBC sitcom, before releasing Mr. Smith (1995), which went on to sell over two million copies. When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." The official second single from Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1", which featured Method Man, Redman & Master P and introduced DMX and Canibus. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . Sha Be Allah. It was just a power trip , Hed make me take off all my clothes and put my arms up on my bunk bed with the `Star Wars sheets while he beat me. LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. L.A. City Council Shutdown Because Council Members Caught on Opinion: Sacramento Mass Shooting Confirms What Experts Already Knew, What the Puck? }); Copyright 2015 . At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. [17] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including two turntables, an audio mixer and an amplifier. 74. In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. He didnt need a good reason. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. As a child, James Todd Smith experienced great tragedy. His fourth book, LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was cowritten in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy's Chuck D. LL Cool J portrays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an exNavy SEAL who is fluent in Arabic and is an expert on West Asian culture. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Both survived. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. The second single was the 7 Aureliusproduced, "Hush", which peaked at No. [78] LL Cool J appeared in Sesame Street's 39th season, introducing the word of the day--"Unanimous"in episode 4169 (September 22, 2008) and performing "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (September 30, 2008). However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. A new cover was unveiled at the same time. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day. [61], On December 29, 2021, LL Cool J canceled his performance at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LL's funds . His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. In the same year 2009, he was cast as a regular in the still-running CBS TV series 'NCIS: Los Angeles', in which he plays special agent 'Sam Hanna', a Navy investigator. He would beat me for watching television, for looking at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. [84] He played Beth's father in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and was shown in a trailer for the film but his scenes were cut from the final product.[85]. [70] He received positive reviews for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss nicknamed "God", in In Too Deep. American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor (born 1968), LL Cool J during a 2001 performance in Germany, 19932005: Continued success and career prominence. - I Shot Ya 1995. [9], Smith dated Kidada Jones, daughter of producer Quincy Jones, from 1992 to 1994. [18] It was featured in the film Krush Groove (1985), which was based on the rise of Def Jam and new school acts such as Run-D.M.C. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. [98] The decline of the old-school form of hip hop also led to the closing of Sugar Hill Records, one of the labels that helped contribute to early hip hop and that, coincidentally, rejected LL's demo tape. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. Decades later, he's in a really good place with a stable career and a great family life. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. Young James had a rather traumatic childhood. And LL was the one who discovered them! LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. According to Hollywood.com; Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law Eugene in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back out of frustration over the couples divorce in 1972, when the Grammy winner and awards host was just a young boy. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! [76], In 2005, he returned to television in a guest-starring role on the Fox medical drama House; he portrayed a death row inmate felled by an unknown disease in an episode entitled "Acceptance". Classic albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. Despite commercial appeal, the album was often criticized by the hip-hop community as being too commercial and materialistic, and for focusing too much on love ballads. However, his childhood was quite challenging, starting with the fact that he grew up in a tough section of Queens, New York, where drugs were present almost everywhere. After this experience, the couple's relationship became stronger. 1: The Genesis", "About.com Rick Rubin's Style and Approach", "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America - Original Soundtrack", "50 Cent, LL Cool J Teaming Up For LP News Story Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News", "VIDEO: Check out LL Cool J's New NCIS:LA-Inspired Song", "SXSW Interview: LL Cool J and Z-Trip Talk About Their Collaboration, Their High Esteem For The Hip-Hop "Blueprint" and Their Thoughts On Rap's Up-And-Coming Talent", "Hottest Record - Kasabian - Days Are Forgotten (LL Cool J Remix)", "LL Cool J Announces "Authentic" Release Date & Tracklist", "LL Cool J On Eddie Van Halen Collabo: "Now He's Officially Done Hip-Hop", "Eddie Van Halen Teams Up With LL Cool J", "Hear Eddie Van Halen Perform on Two New LL Cool J Songs", "Nirvana, Kiss, Hall and Oates Nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", "LL Cool J On Def Jam's 30th Anniversary And His New Street Album", "Unretired Rap Legend LL Cool J Shares New Album Details & Offers 'G.O.A.T.